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Monday, December 22, 2014

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is still examining the
controversial anti-conversion Bill passed by the Chhattisgarh Assembly
in 2006. The Dharma Swatantraya Adhiniyam Act, 2006, brought by BJP’s
Raman Singh government in the state says the return of a person to his
ancestor’s religion or own original religion shall not be construed as
“conversion.”

The Bill also says that a district magistrate will have to be
intimated 30 days prior to the conversion and he will be the final
authority on the subject.

When the Bill was passed by the state Assembly in 2006, it drew sharp
criticism from the opposition parties and several Christian bodies,
which opposed it saying organisation involved in philanthropic
activities will be deliberately targeted by the state government.

Former Chhattisgarh governors Lieutenant General Krishna Mohan Seth
and ESL Narsimhan had refused to give an assent to the Bill. Narsimhan’s
successor Shekhar Dutt, also appointed by the then UPA government, kept
it hanging for three years after taking charge in 2010.

The Bill was finally sent by Chhattisgarh Governor’s office to the
MHA for consultation. Officials said they were still awaiting response
from Women and Child Development Ministry,ministries of culture, tribal
affairs, minority affairs and law on the subject.

“The MHA is still examining the provisions of the Bill to check if it
is at all in contravention with the Centre’s stand on it. We are
legally examining it. However, considering that there has been a change
of government at the Centre, the Bill could get clearance,” said a
senior MHA official on condition of anonymity.

The previous UPA government had kept the Bill hanging and took no
decision over it. The Bill says that anybody found guilty of
contravening the district magistrate’s decision is liable to
imprisonment for up to three years and a fine of up to Rs 20,000. It
also says that violation of the provisions is a cognizable offence.

Why his govt Bill is controversial

Return of a person to one’s ancestor’s religion or own original religion shall not be construed as ‘conversion’.

DM will be the final authority on the subject and anybody guilty of
contravening the DM’s decision is liable to imprisonment for up to 3
years.